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Curiosity Finds Iron Meteorite on Mars [merged]


Waspie_Dwarf

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Curiosity Finds Iron Meteorite on Mars

This rock encountered by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is an iron meteorite called "Lebanon," similar in shape and luster to iron meteorites found on Mars by the previous generation of rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Lebanon is about 2 yards or 2 meters wide (left to right, from this angle). The smaller piece in the foreground is called "Lebanon B."

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http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/186393-curiosity-finds-massive-metal-meteorite-on-mars-as-it-moves-into-more-dangerous-exciting-territory

pia18387-MSL-ChemCam-Lebanon-br2-640x306.jpg

NASA’s Curiosity rover has encountered a massive iron meteorite on Mars. At roughly two meters (6.5 feet) wide, and who knows how much beneath the surface, the meteorite (dubbed “Lebanon”) might be the largest ever discovered on Mars. In other news, Curiosity recently celebrated its first Martian anniversary on the Red Planet (almost two Earth years), and is now about two thirds of the way to its primary target of Mount Sharp, which it should reach in early 2015. Perhaps most interestingly, Curiosity recently passed into a region of terrain that is much more likely to yield exciting geology data and dramatic photos of the Martian landscape.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/186393-curiosity-finds-massive-metal-meteorite-on-mars-as-it-moves-into-more-dangerous-exciting-territory

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hmmm... looks like it just found a good reason to get to Mars: lotsa cheap iron lying around....

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hmmm... looks like it just found a good reason to get to Mars: lotsa cheap iron lying around....

A few iron meteorites hardly constitutes lots.

If you are looking for iron from space then the asteroid belt is a much better idea.

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hmmm... looks like it just found a good reason to get to Mars: lotsa cheap iron lying around....

I take it you don't approve of the Mars Science Laboratory mission?

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It would be good if the orbiter imaged the impact crater (if there is one) and how the impact of such a large meteorite affected the surrounding area and geology. How did the immense heat from the meteorite interact with its immediate environment? I would expect glassy spherules to be reasonably abundant, have any been found in the vicinity?

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